Heat recovery silencer

ABSTRACT

One or more embodiments of a heat recovery silencer are provided herein. The heat recovery silencer can include a heat recovery outer housing disposed about an inner housing. The inner housing can have a first silencing chamber having an inlet at one end.

FIELD

The present embodiments generally relate to a heat recovery silencer forefficiently recovering heat from a waste product.

BACKGROUND

A need exists for a heat recovery silencer that can recover waste heatfrom a first combustion system in an efficient manner.

A further need exists for a heat recovery silencer that can eliminatethe need for a second combustion system to prevent unnecessaryemissions. Furthermore there is a need for an efficient heat recoverysilencer that eliminates the need for multiple combustions system.

A need also exists for a heat recovery silencer that can muffle oreliminate a sound emanating from an exhaust system of a combustionsystem, and can efficiently recover waste heat from an exhaust gas fromthe combustion system.

The present embodiments meet these needs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of an illustrative heat recovery silenceraccording to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 depicts a cross sectional view of the heat recovery silencer ofFIG. 1 along line A-A according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic of an illustrative system utilizing a heatrecovery silencer according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4A depicts an illustrative catalyst housing usable with the heatrecovery silencer according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4B depicts an illustrative view of the catalyst housing of FIG. 4Ahaving a catalyst device disposed therein.

FIG. 5 depicts a flow diagram for an illustrative method of using theheat recovery silencer according to one or more embodiments.

The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listedFigures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Before explaining the present apparatus in detail, it is to beunderstood that the apparatus is not limited to the particularembodiments and that it can be practiced or carried out in various ways.

The present embodiments relate to a heat recovery silencer forrecovering waste heat from one or more combustion systems.

One or more embodiments of the heat recovery silencer can be integratedor operatively connected to a boiler or engine of a back up electricgeneration system for a building or facility. The heat recovery silencercan be used to provide waste heat to another system, such as a watersystem to heat water.

One or more embodiments of the heat recovery silencer can be integratedwith or placed in operative communication with a furnace or othercombustion source in a chemical plant and used to provide heat to asecond portion of the chemical plant requiring heat to perform a task orgenerate electricity.

One or more embodiments of the heat recovery silencer can be integratedwith or placed in operative communication with a natural gas hydrationsystem and can use waste water to heat a heat transfer fluid, which canbe used to dehydrate a natural gas so the moisture content of thenatural gas is suitable for pipeline transportation or an intended enduse.

In one or more embodiments, the heat recovery silencer can include aninner housing. The inner housing can include three or more silencingchambers. For example, the heat recovery silencer can include a firstsilencing chamber, a second silencing chamber, and a third silencingchamber.

The first silencing chamber can be in fluid communication with an inletof the inner housing. For example, exhaust gas from a combustion systemcan flow into the inlet of the first silencing chamber and then flowinto the inner housing. In one or more embodiments, the first housingcan have an inlet remote or adjacent the first silencing chamber, andthe inlet can be in communication with the combustion system and thefirst chamber. For example, one or more flow paths can be providedbetween the inlet of the inner housing and the first chamber by one ormore openings formed in the inner housing. In one or more embodiments,one or more additional chambers or devices can be integrated orconnected with the inner housing. In one or more embodiments the inletof the first silencing chamber can be the inlet of the inner housing.

The second silencing chamber can be in fluid communication with thefirst silencing chamber. For example, a flow path or communication pathcan be formed between the first silencing chamber and the secondsilencing chamber by one or more tubes, channels, valves, ports, or anycombination thereof. In one or more embodiments, one or more baffletubes can be in fluid communication with the first silencing chamber andthe second silencing chamber and provide fluid communicationtherebetween.

The third silencing chamber can be in fluid communication with two ormore vectoring tubes. The vectoring tubes can be in fluid communicationwith the second silencing chamber. Accordingly, fluid or gas, such asexhaust from a combustion system, can flow from the second silencingchamber to the third silencing chamber through the vectoring tubes.

The vectoring tubes can provide spiraling flow to the gas or fluidflowing therethrough. The vectoring tubes can prevent or minimize backpressure to the third silencing chamber. The third silencing chamber andthe second silencing chamber can be in fluid communication with fromabout 2 to about 100 vectoring tubes. For example, two vectoring tubescan be used to provide fluid communication between the third silencingchamber and the second silencing chamber. Accordingly, the contactbetween the gas or fluid and the inner surface of the inner housing inthe third chamber can be optimized or maximized.

A vent can be in fluid communication with the third silencing chamberand an environment exterior thereto. The vent can include one or moreflow control devices for controlling the rate of gas or fluid allowed toflow therethrough. The exterior of environment can be the atmosphere.

The heat recovery outer housing can be disposed about the inner housing.In one or more embodiments, the outer housing can encapsulate the innerhousing.

The heat recovery flow path, such as a channel, space, or chamber, canbe formed between the heat recovery outer housing and the inner housing.

In one or more embodiments, the first silencing chamber can be in fluidcommunication with a conduit, such as a half pipe. The conduit can alsobe in fluid communication with the third silencing chamber. Accordingly,the conduit can provide a flow path between the first silencing chamberand the third silencing chamber for at least a first portion of the gasor fluid, such as exhaust, in the first chamber. The conduit can helpmaintain a differential pressure between the third silencing chamber andthe first silencing chamber. As such, a second portion of the gas orfluid, which can be larger than the first portion of the gas or fluid,will be able to flow from the first silencing chamber to the secondsilencing chamber, and from the second silencing chamber to the thirdsilencing chamber.

The conduit can be secured to an outer surface of the inner housing, andan exterior portion of the conduit can be disposed or located within theheat recovery flow path. As such, the conduit can also maximize orincrease the heat transferred from the gas or fluid in the inner housingwith a gas or fluid in the heat recovery flow path.

In one or more embodiments, the heat recovery silencer can include adiffuser adjacent or in fluid communication with the first silencingchamber. The diffuser can provide a velocity drop and a direction changeto the gas or fluid as the gas or fluid leaves the exhaust system of acombustion system and enters the heat recovery silencer.

The heat recovery silencer can also include a diffusion chamber disposedbetween the diffuser and the first silencing chamber. The diffusionchamber can be in fluid communication with the diffuser and the firstsilencing chamber.

In addition, one or more embodiments of the heat recovery silencer canbe or include a catalyst element disposed or located between thediffuser chamber and the first silencing chamber. The catalyst elementcan be in fluid communication with the first silencing chamber and thediffuser chamber.

The catalyst element can include the catalyst device and the catalysthousing.

The catalyst device can be a plurality of sheets having a catalystcoating. The sheets can be wrapped around one another and a space can beformed between the sheets to allow exhaust gas or fluid to flowtherebetween.

The catalyst device can include a metal group catalyst. The metal groupcatalyst can include platinum, ruthenium, palladium, or other metalgroup catalysts.

In an embodiment, the catalyst device can include a plurality of layersof metal group catalyst and a space or flow area can be located betweeneach layer.

The catalyst element can receive a gas or fluid flowing from thecombustion system to the first silencing chamber and provide a catalyticreduction or reaction to the gas or fluid flowing therethrough. Thecatalytic reaction can reduce NOX gas, volatile organic compounds,formaldehyde, or combinations thereof in the gas or fluid.

The catalyst housing can include an opening and an access cover disposedover the opening. The access cover can be mounted to the catalysthousing with a hinge. In addition, the catalyst housing can have aradius of curvature and the access cover can have a radius of curvatureallowing the access cover to fit over at least a portion of the catalysthousing and seal the opening.

The catalyst housing can include four moveable pressure sealing bars, acatalyst element seating ring formed into the catalyst housing, and aseal plate. The four movable pressure sealing bars can be configured topush the catalyst device against the seal plate to form a pressure seal,which causes the exhaust gas to only flow through the catalyst element.

The heat recovery silencer can silence or muffle noise associated with acombustion exhaust system. In addition, the heat recovery silencer canreduce risks associated with multiple combustion systems by efficientlyremoving waste heat from exhaust gas of a combustion system, whichallows waste heat to be used to generate electricity, dehydrate naturalgas, heat water, influence or accelerate a chemical reaction, or performother tasks requiring heat.

In one or more embodiments the heat recovery silencer can include a heatrecovery outer housing encapsulating an inner housing to form a heatrecovery flow path therebetween. The inner housing can have twosilencing chambers formed or disposed therein. The silencing chamberscan be in fluid communication with an inlet to the inner housing.

Two vectoring tubes can be used to provide fluid communication betweenthe silencing chambers. A vent can be in fluid communication with thesilencing chambers and an environment external to the housings.

Accordingly, exhaust gas can flow from the inlet of the inner housinginto to one of the chambers. The exhaust gas can flow through the twovectoring tubes to the other chamber. The vectoring tubes can impart aspiraling flow to the exhaust gas as the exhaust gas is flowingtherethrough. The exhaust gas can evacuate or flow out of the otherchamber through the vent to the external environment.

The heat recovery silencer can be better understood with reference tothe Figures. FIG. 1 depicts a side view of an illustrative heat recoverysilencer, and FIG. 2 depicts a cross sectional view of the heat recoverysilencer of FIG. 1 along line A-A according to one or more embodiments.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a heat recovery silencer 10 is depicted having aninner housing 12, a heat recovery outer housing 16, a heat recovery flowpath 15 disposed or formed between the inner housing 12 and the heatrecovery outer housing 16, a catalyst element 73, an access cover 74, adiffuser housing 57, a diffuser chamber 66, a diffuser inlet 59, and adiffuser 63. Although the heat recovery silencer is depicted in ahorizontal position, other positions are possible, such as a verticalorientation. It would be possible for one skilled in the art with theaid of this disclosure to orient the heat recovery silencer 10 in anynumber of positions without undue experimentation.

The heat recovery outer housing 16 can be concentric with the innerhousing 12. The heat recovery outer housing 16 can at least partiallyencapsulate the inner housing 12. The heat recovery outer housing 16 canbe made from steel, carbon steel, ceramic, or other material capable ofwithstanding high temperatures. The heat recovery outer housing 16 canhave one or more ports (two ports are shown as 5 and 6) formedtherethrough.

The inner housing 12 can have three or more silencing chambers (threeare shown as 46, 48, and 52) formed or located therein. The firstsilencing chamber 46 can be in fluid communication with an exhaustsource. For example, an inlet, such as a diffuser inlet 59, can beconnected to the inner housing 12 and in fluid communication with thefirst silencing chamber 46. One or more components can be locatedbetween the diffuser inlet 59 and the first silencing chamber 46 (asshown). The diffuser inlet 59 can be in direct fluid communication withthe first silencer chamber 46.

The first silencing chamber 46 can also be in fluid communication with asecond silencing chamber 48. For example, one or more baffle tubes (twoare shown as 50 a and 50 b) can be in fluid communication with the firstsilencing chamber 46 and the second silencing chamber 48. The baffletubes 50 a and 50 b can provide a flow path between the first silencingchamber 46 and the second silencing chamber 48.

The second silencing chamber 48 can be in fluid communication with athird silencing chamber 52. For example, one or more vectoring tubes(two are shown 54, 56) can be in fluid communication with the secondsilencing chamber 48 and the third silencing chamber 52. The vectoringtubes 54, 56 can provide a flow path between the second silencingchamber 48 and the third silencing chamber 52. The third silencingchamber 52 can be in fluid communication with a vent 62, which can be influid communication with an external environment.

The heat recovery flow path 15 can be a chamber, a channel, a space, aniche or other void between the inner housing 12 and the heat recoveryouter housing 16. The heat recovery flow path 15 can be in fluidcommunication with the ports 5 and 6. The ports 5 and 6 can allow fluidto enter and exit the heat recovery flow path 15.

The inner housing 12 can have the catalyst element 73 disposed adjacentor connected thereto. The catalyst element 73 can include a catalysthousing 71 and a catalyst device disposed therein (as shown below inFIGS. 4A and 4B).

The diffuser housing 57 can be disposed adjacent and connected to thecatalyst housing 71. The diffuser housing 57 can have a diffuser chamber66 located therein. The diffuser chamber 66 can be in fluidcommunication with the first silencer chamber 46 and the diffuser inlet59.

The diffuser 63, such as a conical diffuser, a baffle plate, a flowtube, or similar device that provides a velocity change to a flowingfluid or gas, can be located between the diffuser chamber 66 and thediffuser inlet 59. In one or more embodiments, the diffuser 63 can atleast partially protrude into the diffuser chamber 66.

In operation, the diffuser inlet 59 can be placed in fluid communicationwith an exhaust of a combustion system 2. A high velocity exhaust gasstream 3 can flow from the exhaust of the combustion system 2 to thediffuser inlet 59.

The high velocity exhaust gas stream 3 can pass through the diffuser 63.The diffuser 63 can cause the velocity of the high velocity exhaust gasstream 3 to change. For example, the diffuser 63 can slow down andprovide a direction change to the high velocity exhaust gas stream 3.

Accordingly, the high velocity exhaust gas stream 3 can be transformedto a low velocity exhaust gas stream 65 as it passes through thediffuser 63 and enters the diffuser chamber 66.

The low velocity exhaust gas stream 65 can flow through the diffuserchamber 66 into the catalyst housing 71.

As the low velocity exhaust gas stream 65 passes through the catalysthousing 71, a catalytic reaction can be imparted to the low velocityexhaust gas stream 65.

The low velocity exhaust gas stream 65 can flow from the catalysthousing 71 to the first silencing chamber 46. A second portion 8 of thelow velocity exhaust gas stream 65 can flow from the first silencingchamber 46 to the second silencing chamber 48 via the baffle tubes 50 aand 50 b. A first portion 9 of the low velocity exhaust gas stream 65can flow from the first silencing chamber 50 to the third silencingchamber 52 through a conduit 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d, 18 e, and 18 f.

The second portion 8 of the low velocity exhaust stream 65 can flow fromthe second silencing chamber 48 to the third silencing chamber 52 viathe vectoring tubes 54 and 56. As the second portion 8 of the lowvelocity exhaust gas stream 65 passes through vectoring tubes 54 and 56,the vectoring tubes 54 and 56 can impart a spiral flow to the firstportion 8 of the low velocity exhaust gas stream 65 as it enters thethird silencing chamber 52.

As such, back pressure in the third silencing chamber 52 can be reducedand contact with an inner surface 60 of the inner housing 12 can beincreased. The second portion 8 of the low velocity exhaust gas stream65 can mix with the first portion 9 of the low velocity exhaust stream65 in the third silencing chamber 52.

The second portion 8 and the first portion 9 of the low velocity exhaustgas stream 65 can exit the third silencing chamber 52 via the vent 62.

As the low velocity exhaust gas stream 65 flows through the innerhousing 12, a heat transfer fluid 16, such as a diethylene glycol, apurified water, a triethylene glycol, a synthetic oil (300-600 F withoutdegrading), a silicon fluid, a refrigerant, or other fluid, can enterthe heat exchange flow path 15 via the right port 6 and flow to the leftport 5.

As the heat transfer fluid 16 flows from the right port 6 to the leftport 5, indirect heat exchange can occur between the low velocity gasexhaust stream 65 and the heat transfer fluid 16. The heat transferredfrom the low velocity gas exhaust stream 65 to the heat transfer fluid16 can form heated heat transfer fluid 26. The heated heat transferfluid 26, which can be a vapor or liquid, can exit the left port 5 andbe provided to an end use.

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic of an illustrative system for dehydratingnatural gas utilizing a heat recovery silencer according to one or moreembodiments. The system can include the heat transfer silencer 10, ahigh pressure pump 321, a gas dehydrator 320, a natural gas well 319, aglycol regenerator 398, a heat exchanger 340, a gas flash 330, and aflow control device 328.

The high pressure pump 321 can be an electric pump or a hydraulic pump.The high pressure pump 321 can provide a pressure or pump head fromabout 20 psig to about 350 psig.

The gas dehydrator 320 can be a glycol contactor or similar device thatcan use a heated heat transfer fluid to absorb or extract water from awet natural gas 322 provided from a natural gas well head 319.

The natural gas well head 319 can be in communication with one or morenatural gas producing reservoirs and can be configured to extractnatural gas from the reservoir.

The glycol regenerator 398 can be a glycol regenerator or similar deviceused in the art.

The heat exchanger 340 can be a fin fan heat exchanger or other heatexchanging device. The heat exchanger 340 can have two or more flowpaths formed therethrough.

The gas flasher 330 can be a gas flash device or similar device used inthe art.

The flow control device 328 can be a butterfly valve, a solenoid valve,or similar devices for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough. Inone or more embodiments, the flow control device 328 can have one ormore flow paths therethrough.

In operation, a heat transfer fluid 316, such as a glycol, can beprovided to the heat recovery flow path 15. An exhaust 301 from acombustion system 300, such as a diesel engine or internal combustionengine, can be provided to the inner housing 12 of the heat recoverysilencer 10.

As the heat transfer fluid 316 flows through the heat recovery flow path15, heat from the exhaust 301 can be transferred to the heat transferfluid 316 to form a heated heat recovery fluid 326.

The heated heat recovery fluid 326 can flow through the heat exchanger340. The high pressure pump 321 can be used to provide pressure to thesystem to flow the heated heat transfer fluid 326 from the heat recoverysilencer 10 to the gas dehydrator 320. As the heated heat transfer fluid326 flows to the gas dehydrator 320, the heated heat transfer fluid 326can pass through the high pressure pump 321 and the flow control device328. The flow control device 328 and the high pressure pump 321 can becontrolled by a control system (not depicted) to ensure adequate pumphead and temperature of the heated heat transfer fluid 326.

The heated heat transfer fluid 326 can commingle with or dehydrate a wetgas 322 being provided from the well head 319 to the gas dehydrator 320.The heated heat transfer fluid 326 can absorb water from the wet gas 322until a saturated heat transfer fluid 324 and a dry gas 327 are formed.A flow control device 305 can control the rate of the saturated heattransfer fluid 324 flowing from the gas dehydrator 320. The dry gas 327can flow or be provided to an end use, such as a pipeline.

The saturated heat transfer fluid 324 can pass through the gas flasher330, and a hydrocarbon vapor 332 can be removed from the saturated heattransfer fluid 324 and a liquid hydrocarbon 334 can be skimmed orremoved from the saturated heat transfer fluid 324 to form a flashedheat transfer fluid 336.

The flashed heat transfer fluid 336 can travel from the gas flasher 330to the heat exchanger 340. The flashed heat transfer fluid 336 canexchange heat with the heated heat transfer fluid 326 flowing throughthe heat exchanger 340 to form heated flashed heat transfer fluid 342.

The heated flashed heat transfer fluid 342 can be provided to the glycolregenerator 398. The glycol regenerator 398 can release any remainingwater vapor in the heated flashed heat transfer fluid 342 to form aregenerated flashed heat transfer fluid 344.

The regenerated flashed heat transfer fluid 344 can flow from the glycolregenerator 398 to the condenser 350 where a released water vapor 394 isremoved from the regenerated flashed heat transfer fluid 344 to formrecycled heat transfer fluid 396.

The recycled heat transfer fluid 396 can flow back through the glycolregenerator 398 and flow into the heat recovery silencer 10 as the heattransfer fluid 316 and can be reheated to form the heated heat transferfluid 326.

A portion 317 of the heated heat transfer fluid 326 can be provided tothe glycol regenerator 398 to provide at least a portion of the heatrequired to operate the glycol regenerator 398.

Each component of the system can be in communication with a controlsystem (not depicted) that can acquire data related to the individualcomponents of the system and selectively control the components of thesystem. For example, the control system can control a flow control valve(not depicted) used to control the flow rate of the portion 317 of theheated heat transfer fluid provided to the glycol regenerator 398. Thecontrol system can be any control system used in the art and can employany number of flow control devices to control the flow rates of fluidthrough the system. The control system can be implemented by one skilledin the art with the aid of this disclosure without undueexperimentation.

FIG. 4A depicts a catalyst housing 71 usable with the heat recoverysilencer 10 according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 4B is a view ofthe catalyst element 73 having catalyst devices 70 a and 70 b beingdisposed therein. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B. The catalyst element 73can include the catalyst housing 71. The catalyst housing 71 can includeone or more seating rings (two are shown as 82 a and 82 b), one or morehousing seal plates 84, an access cover 74, an opening 72, and at leastfour moveable pressure sealing bars 77,78,79, and 80.

The opening 72 can allow one or more catalyst devices 70 a and 70 b tobe placed into the catalyst housing 71. The opening 72 can be blocked orsealed by the access cover 74. The access cover 74 can be mounted to thecatalyst housing 71 by the hinge 76. When the access cover 74 seals theopening 72, a lock mechanism 400 can be used to secure the access cover74 in place.

The catalyst element can sit on the seating rings 82 a and 82 b, and theseating rings 82 a and 82 b can ensure proper positioning of thecatalyst devices 70 a and 70 b within the catalyst housing 71.

The at least four moveable pressure sealing bars 77, 78, 79, and 80 canbe fixed at one end. The other end of the at least four moveablepressure sealing bars 77, 78, 79, and 80 can be moved to press one ormore of the catalyst devices against the seal plate 84 by a tighteningdevice 475. Accordingly, a pressure seal can be formed between the sealplate 84 and the catalyst devices.

FIG. 5 depicts a flow diagram for an illustrative method of using theheat recovery silencer according to one or more embodiments.

At box 500, exhaust gas can be provided to the first silencing chamber.At box 510, the exhaust gas can flow to the second silencing chamberfrom the first silencing chamber.

At box 520, the exhaust gas can flow from the second silencing chamberto the third silencing chamber. As the exhaust gas flows to the thirdsilencing chamber, a spiral flow can be imparted to the exhaust gas.

At the same time or near the same time the exhaust gas flows through thesilencing chambers, a heat transfer fluid can flow through the heatrecovery flow path. The heat transfer fluid can be heated by the exhaustgas to provide a heated heat transfer fluid, as depicted at box 530. Forexample, the heat transfer fluid can be heated by the exhaust gas byindirect heat transfer.

While these embodiments have been described with emphasis on theembodiments, it should be understood that within the scope of theappended claims, the embodiments might be practiced other than asspecifically described herein.

1. A heat recovery silencer comprising: a. a heat recovery outer housingdisposed about an inner housing, wherein the inner housing comprises:(i) a first silencing chamber having an inlet at one end; (ii) a secondsilencing chamber in fluid communication with the first silencingchamber, wherein the second silencing chamber is in fluid communicationwith a first end of two vectoring tubes; (iii) a third silencing chamberin fluid communication with a second end of the two vectoring tubes,wherein a conduit is in fluid communication with the first silencingchamber and the third silencing chamber; and (iv) a vent in fluidcommunication with an environment exterior to the third silencingchamber and the third silencing chamber; b. a heat recovery flow pathformed between the heat recovery outer housing and the inner housing. 2.The heat recovery silencer of claim 1, wherein the fluid communicationbetween the first silencing chamber and the second silencing chamber isprovided by a baffle tube.
 3. The heat recovery silencer of claim 1,wherein the fluid communication between the first silencing chamber andthe second silencing chamber is provided by a plurality of baffle tubes.4. The heat recovery silencer of claim 1, wherein the conduit isconnected to an exterior portion of the inner housing, and wherein aportion of the conduit is disposed in the heat recovery flow path. 5.The heat recovery silencer of claim 1, wherein the heat recovery flowpath has a heat transfer fluid within it, and wherein the heat transferfluid is a member of the group consisting of: a diethylene glycol, apurified water, a triethylene glycol, a synthetic oil, a silicon fluid,a refrigerant, or combinations thereof.
 6. The heat recovery silencer ofclaim 1, further comprising a diffuser chamber in fluid communicationwith the inlet of the first silencing chamber, wherein the diffuserchamber has a diffuser inlet, and wherein a diffuser is disposed in thediffuser inlet.
 7. The heat recovery silencer of claim 6, furthercomprising a catalyst element comprising a catalyst housing and aremovable catalyst device disposed within the catalyst housing, whereinthe catalyst housing is disposed between the diffuser chamber and thefirst silencing chamber, and wherein the catalyst element is in fluidcommunication with the first silencing chamber and the diffuser chamber.8. The heat recovery silencer of claim 7, wherein the catalyst devicecomprises a metal group catalyst.
 9. The heat recovery silencer of claim8, wherein the metal group catalyst comprises at least one of aplatinum, a ruthenium, and a palladium.
 10. The heat recovery silencerof claim 7, wherein the catalyst device comprises a plurality of sheets,wherein the plurality of sheets have a catalyst coating, and wherein theplurality of sheets are wrapped around one another.
 11. The heatrecovery silencer of claim 7, wherein the catalyst housing comprises anopening and an access cover, wherein the access cover selectively sealsthe opening.
 12. The heat recovery silencer of claim 11, wherein theaccess cover is mounted to the catalyst housing with a hinge.
 13. Theheat recovery silencer of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of thecatalyst housing has a radius of curvature.
 14. The heat recoverysilencer of claim 11, wherein the access cover has a radius ofcurvature, which allows the access cover to selectively seal theopening.
 15. The heat recovery silencer of claim 11, wherein thecatalyst housing further comprises four moveable pressure sealing bars,wherein the sealing bars are connected to both the catalyst housing at afirst end and a tightening device at a second end, wherein a catalystelement sealing ring is formed into the catalyst housing, wherein a sealplate is formed on a side of the catalyst housing, and wherein the fourmovable pressure sealing bars are configured to push the catalyst deviceagainst the seal plate.
 16. A heat recovery silencer comprising: a. aheat recovery outer housing encapsulating an inner housing forming aheat recovery flow path, wherein the inner housing has an exhaust gaswithin it, wherein the heat recovery flow path has a heat transfer fluidwithin it, and wherein the exhaust gas exchanges heat with the heattransfer fluid; b. a first silencing chamber located within the innerhousing in fluid communication with an inlet of the inner housing; c. abaffle tube for providing fluid communication between the firstsilencing chamber and a second silencing chamber; d. a third silencingchamber within the inner housing, wherein the third silencing chamber isin fluid communication with two vectoring tubes, wherein the vectoringtubes are in fluid communication with the second silencing chamber,wherein a conduit is in fluid communication with the first silencingchamber and the third silencing chamber; and e. a vent in fluidcommunication with the third silencing chamber and an environmentexternal to the inner housing.
 17. The heat recovery silencer of claim16, wherein the heat transfer fluid is a member of the group consistingof: a diethylene glycol, a purified water, a triethylene glycol, asynthetic oil, a silicon fluid, a refrigerant, and combinations thereof.18. The heat recovery silencer of claim 16, further comprising adiffuser chamber in fluid communication with the inlet of the firstsilencing chamber, wherein the diffuser chamber has a diffuser inlet,and wherein a diffuser is disposed in the diffuser inlet.